The Road to Success

The Wonder of Books

A Poem for Christmastime

What You May Be Getting for Christmas

Friday, December 20, 2013

B5: Charity Basketball Games B5  -- Bring $1 for the game
Work on the Name Search before you go.

Remember:
You may not take your backpack to the gym.
If you'll need to, use the bathroom or get a drink BEFORE you enter the gym.
Show courtesy and sportsmanship.

B6 - B8
Parts of Speech Review with Mad-Libs
Short Story
Practice Scanning and "Close Reading" with Name Search

Note to you:  Try looking up something about Christmas on Google, and see what happens.  At least it happens on Google Chrome.

Announcements and Reminders: Today is the LAST DAY to hand in late or revised work or extra credit for this term. Don't forget to write your Letter About Literature and have it ready to hand in by January 7.  It is about a book that has inspired or changed or impressed you.  It could be one you especially connected with.  It could be a book that started your love of reading -- or overcame --at least while reading it -- your dislike of reading. It is not a summary.  The author already knows the story. Correspond, don’t compliment! Your letter should inform rather than flatter the author. All FAN letters will be eliminated! See the Required Reading tab above. Here are the handouts: Letters About Literature-2014.doc Sample Letter.doc I will be here after school today for anyone who needs to make up a test  or spelling or needs to work in the computer lab. Have a wonderful Christmas holiday!  See you next year!

1.  Individual Reading Time and Fill out your reading log. 2.  Practicing recognizing and generating parts of speech Parts of Speech with Mad-Libs  See these lists of nouns, adjectives, and verbs. 3.  Short Story with questions  http://thestorylady-gale.blogspot.com/2011/12/stubby-pringles-christmas.html   This version is condensed, and there are errors. 4.  More Mad-Libs, I mean parts of speech practice 5.  Practicing the Reading Strategies called Scanning and Close Reading.  (Word Search)

If you were absent: I hope you either had a good time or are feeling better.  See the reminders above.

 Thursday – Friday without CAVE Time

     1^s Lunch                                          2^nd Lunch                                                                 

A1/ B5	8:15-9:40		A1/ B5	8:15-9:40	85 minutes
A2/B6	9:45-11:15		A2/ B6	9:45-11:15	90 minutes
Lunch	11:15-11:45		A3/ B7	11:20-12:45	85 minutes
A3/ B7	11:50-1:15		Lunch	12:45-1:15	30 minutes
A4 /B8	1:20-2:45		A4/B8	1:20-2:45	85 minutes

Updated 8/20/2013

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Announcements and Reminders: Friday, December 20, is the last day to hand in late and revised work. Have your Effects of TV essay ready to be graded by this afternoon after school.  Turn in or resubmit your Theme Letter before Friday.  You already received a grading sheet twice.  If you still need one, please print this: November Bk of Mon Directions.doc Do not forget to complete your letter about literature and turn it in by January 7.   It is not a summary.  The author already knows the story. Correspond, don’t compliment! Your letter should inform rather than flatter the author. All FAN letters will be eliminated!     If you absolutely cannot type it, turn in a neat handwritten copy for 10% less points.  Samples for Letters About Literature/ December Book Assignment    If you need to complete make-up reading, please do it right away.         Ms. Dorsey is available after school for test make-up for absent students.  Charity Basketball Games on Friday for B5. Fact or Opinion: 1.  You need a dollar to get into the charity basketball games. 2.  You really ought to go to the  charity basketball games. 3.   Jared said, "It is more fun to watch the boys' games than to watch the girls' games." 4.   Once you are in there, you will not be allowed to leave the gym to go to the bathroom or get a drink. 5.   People who boo at sporting events are bad people. So --     Have a dollar ready.     Do not take a backpack.     Use the bathroom or get a drink if needed before you go to the gym.     Be sportsmanlike in your behavior.

1.  Individual reading and fill out the reading log. 2.  Adjective and Commas Review 3.  Fact/Opinion Quick Review 4.  Adjective/ Coordinate Commas Final Test 5.  Fact/Opinion Final Test 6.  Media Center Survey 7. If time: Five Minute Mystery #8  http://www.otr.net/?p=fmin Watch for Claim, Evidence,  and Warrant.

If you were absent: Check the above.    Ms. Dorsey is available after school for test make-up for absent students.

Monday, December 16, 2013

Announcements and Reminders: Do not forget to write Santa Letters!   Charity Basketball Games B5 ONLY on Friday  -- Bring  $1 for  the game Do not forget that the LAST day to hand in late and  revised work for this term is December 20.  Do not forget to complete and submit your theme  letter for the November Book Assessment.  Turn in  your packet to let me know you are ready for it to be  graded.  You already received a grading sheet twice.  If you still need one, please print this: November Bk of Mon Directions.doc Do not forget to get your Effects of TV score up!  We will be in the computer lab to finish that essay  on today.  Full points will be for a score of 4.5.  Points above that will be extra credit. It should use essay organization, present effective reasoning, and be carefully revised and edited.  You will have two days after today  to complete it, if needed. Your final score will be the score earned by MyAccess by December 18. Here is the outline for your essay on The Effects of TV:    Essay Outline for Effects of TV.doc  Are you working on your Letter About Literature letter for  the December Book Assessment -- due January 7? Samples for Letters About Literature/ December Book Assignment It is not a summary.  The author already knows the story. Correspond, don’t compliment! Your letter should inform rather than flatter the author. All FAN letters will be eliminated! If you finish your science fiction or fantasy book, you may use the time for rereading the book you plan to use for  your Letter About Literature. Book orders are due by December 20.  They will come  AFTER Christmas Break -- of course.

1. Individual reading and log.  READ and fill out your log. 2. Coordinate Adjective practice -- "Order of Adjectives" worksheet.       Each of you will take a worksheet, but you will work as partners to complete it.     3. Computer Lab:  Finish Effects of TV  Essay       Sit in your assigned seat -- your folder number.

An Impressionist Painting 

1. Complete twenty minutes of at-home reading in your science fiction or fantasy book, and fill out the pink make-up log -- or use your own paper for  date, book read, summary of what you read, how long, and parent signature. 2.  Complete the commas and adjectives assignment: collective_word_order__adjectives.doc 2.  Complete the Effects of TV essay from home on My Access.

	B1	B2	B3	B4
Adjective Practice – Order Worksheet	not Completed and checked front page.	partially -- need more time/homework Completed and checked front page.	partially -- need more time	partially  -- need more time
Stand-Up Sentence	x  2	not	x	x all

Just for Pun . . . and the Importance of Editing!

More Coordinate and Cumulative Adjectives

http://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php_files/grammar-lesson-adjectives-placement.php#.Uqm8SWRDvT0





1.  The pianist played a beautiful haunting melody.

2.  The cold December wind chilled me to my bones.

3.  Let’s go catch the 8:00 show at that old drive-in movie theater.

4.  I could really go for a hot delicious pepperoni pizza right about now.



 1.  Haunting and beautiful melody  Makes sense  Coordinate

         Correct comma usage: The pianist played a beautiful, haunting melody.


  2.  December and cold wind  Makes no sense  Hierarchical

         Correct Without Commas



3.   Movie and drive-in theater  Makes no sense  Hierarchical
         Drive-in and old movie theater  Makes no sense  Hierarchical

          Correct Without Commas


4.    Pepperoni and delicious pizza  Makes no sense  Hierarchical
         Delicious and hot pepperoni pizza  Makes sense  Coordinate

         Correct comma usage: I could really go for a hot, delicious pepperoni pizza right about now.


http://www.writing.com/main/books/entry_id/458319



Ex: The dusty, heavy, red guitar is barely playable anymore.

Ex: We were prepared for a long, grueling basketball game.
http://www.uhv.edu/ac/newsletters/writing/grammartip2004.09.21.html


Worksheet:  http://englishlinx.com/common_core/7/language/conventions_of_standard_english/Commas-L.7.2a.pdf

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Announcements and Reminders: Do not forget to write Santa Letters!   Do not forget that the LAST day to hand in late and  revised work for this term is December 20.  Do not forget to complete and submit your theme letter for the November Book Assessment.  Turn in your packet to let me know you are ready for it to be graded. You already received a grading sheet twice.  If you still need one, please print this: November Bk of Mon Directions.doc Do not forget to get your Effects of TV score up! We will be in the computer lab to finish that essay on Monday.  Full points will be for a score of 4.5 or above. It should use essay organization, present effective reasoning, and be carefully revised and edited. We will be in the computer lab again on December 16. You will have two days after that to complete it, if needed. Your final score will be the score earned by MyAccess by December 18. We will be in Computer Lab 201 for Cave Time  today --Thursday. Are you working on your Letter About Literature letter for the December Book Assessment -- due January 7?  Samples for Letters About Literature/ December Book Assignment It is not a summary.  The author already knows the story. Correspond, don’t compliment! Your letter should inform rather than flatter the author. All FAN letters will be eliminated! See the tab above for required reading if you've lost your  pink packet.  If you finish your science fiction or fantasy book, you may use the time for rereading the book you plan to use for your Letter About Literature. Book orders are due by December 20.  They will come AFTER Christmas Break -- of course.

1. Reading your book and fill out log 2. Theme Test 3.  More practice for Coordinate Adjectives --  The Coordinate Adjectives test will be given next time. (The Fact and Opinion test will also be given next week.) For next time:  TV Essay -- Reminders  for next time:  Have you done this? Is your score up to at least a 3.2? Here is the outline for your essay on The Effects of TV:   Essay Outline for Effects of TV.doc   Argument Essay: Is Television Helpful or Harmful? Login Directions for MyAccess The articles you were given:   Television’s Effects on Kids.docx TV Can Be Good for Kids.docx  Television Literature?

If you were absent: 1. See me about a time to take the theme test. 2. Study coordinate adjective. More Coordinate and Cumulative Adjectives 3. If you haven't done it yet, TV Essay -- Reminders  for next time:  Have you done this? Is your score up to at least a 3.2 (C)? Here is the outline for your essay on The Effects of TV:   Essay Outline for Effects of TV.doc   Argument Essay: Is Television Helpful or Harmful? Login Directions for MyAccess The articles you were given:   Television’s Effects on Kids.docx TV Can Be Good for Kids.docx  Television Literature?

	B1	B2	B3	B4
Adjective Practice – Order Worksheet	not	partially -- need more time/homework	partially -- need more time	partially  -- need more time
Stand-Up Sentence	x  2	not	x	x all

Fact or Opinion? - Flash Quiz

1.  Coordinate adjectives are equal with each other and should be separated by a comma.

2.  Coordinate adjectives work better at describing than do cumulative adjectives.

3.  Gary Paulsen is a great writer, and he often uses coordinate adjectives.

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Announcements and Reminders: Next time: Post tests on coordinate adjectives, fact or opinion, and theme with evidence. Do not forget to write Santa Letters!   Do not forget that the LAST day to hand in late and  revised work for this term is December 20.  Do not forget to complete and submit your theme letter for the November Book Assessment.  You already received a grading sheet twice.  If you still need one, please print this: November Bk of Mon Directions.doc Do not forget to get your Effects of TV score up! We will be in Computer Lab 201 for Cave Time Tuesday (today) and Thursday. Are you working on your Letter About Literature letter for the December Book Assessment -- due January 7?  Samples for Letters About Literature/ December Book Assignment It is not a summary.  The author already knows the story. Correspond, don’t compliment! Your letter should inform rather than flatter the author. All FAN letters will be eliminated! If you finish your science fiction or fantasy book, you may use the time for rereading the book you plan to use for your Letter About Literature. Book orders are due by December 20.  They will come AFTER Christmas Break -- of course.  If you need to make up spelling, here is the document:  Commonly Confused Word Make-Up(4).doc

Cumulative Adjectives just pile up.
It would sound strange to put "and" between them
or to reverse them.
They do not need commas between them.

Coordinate Adjectives are Equal.
You could use "and" between them.
You could reverse them.
Place commas between them.

B7 and B8 received their copies of the Royal Order of Adjectives chart.   B5 and B6 had received theirs earlier.

Coordinate Adjectives and The Royal Order of Adjectives

For part of the practice test on coordinate adjectives/commas, the students looked in their own books for sentences that used cumulative or coordinate adjectives.  I found some in a book I'm reading:
Cumulative: 
She went around to the back of the massive beige-colored brick building.
from Byrd and Igloo: A Polar Adventure  page 6
Coordinate: 
In 1902, when Byrd was a skinny, freckle-nosed fourteen-year-old living in Winchester, Virginia, . . .
from Byrd and Igloo: A Polar Adventure  page 9

Class Activities: 1.  Practice with Coordinate Adjectives/Coordinate Commas   2.  Individual Reading and fill out your reading log.   3.  Practice for Theme and Evidence Test 4.  Persuading Santa?  (Prezi) 5.  Fact or Opinion Review (PowerPoint) B7 and B8 went through the PowerPoint very, very quickly, and did not see the Persuading Santa Prazi. We did not use the flash quiz today.  Fact or Opinion? - Flash Quiz

If you were absent: Here are our practice tests: Theme Practice Quiz Fables.docx Coordinate Comma Practice.docx Answer Keys for Practice Tests December 10, 2013 If you need to review them more: Themes from The Outsiders More About Theme Student Examples for Themes Another example of Theme Examples of Theme from Movies  Student Example for Essay about Theme More Examples of Theme from Students Additional Themes in Literature Themes in Deltora Quest: Forests of Silence Review Coordinate (Equal) Adjectives: Monday, December 2, 2013  Scroll down to the Royal Order of Adjectives. adjectives:  http://www.getitwriteonline.com/archive/042301comcoordadj.htm http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/commas-with-adjectives and http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/commas-with-adjectives?page=1 Review Fact and Opinion: Fact or Opinion? What Makes Either?